Grandiflora rose plant named ‘WEKgobnez’

ABSTRACT

A new variety of Grandiflora rose suitable for garden decoration, having flowers of burgundy and cream striped bicolor coloration.

Classification: The present invention relates to a new Rosa hybridaplant.

Variety denomination: The new plant has the varietal denomination‘WEKgobnez’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of GrandifloraRose. It has as its seed parent the variety known as ‘WEKcalroc’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. PO10,334) and as its pollen parent the variety known as‘MACgenev’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 008,279).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the features which distinguish the new variety from otherpresently available and commercial rose cultivars known to the inventorare the following combinations of characteristics: its strong damask tocitrus-like fragrance, its unique flowers of burgundy & cream stripedbicolor coloration and its many stipitate glands on the sepal margins.The plant has an upright moderately spreading growing habit, suitablefor outdoor garden decoration.

Asexual reproduction of the new variety by budding as performed in KernCounty and Pomona, Calif., shows that the foregoing and otherdistinguishing characteristics come true to form and are established andtransmitted through succeeding asexual propagations. ‘WEKgobnez’ may beasexually propagated by cuttings, budding and grafting. The budding andgrafting successfully occurred on the plant/rootstock Rosa hybrida cv.‘Dr. Huey’ (not patented).

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The new rose may be distinguished from its seed parent, ‘WEKcalroc’ bythe following combination of characteristics: whereas ‘WEKgobnez’ bearsvery double flowers (about 41 to 66 petals) of burgundy & cream stripedbicolor coloration, ‘WEKcalroc’ bears double flowers of striped red andyellow coloration with significantly lesser petalage (about 29 to 35petals). The new variety is classified as a grandiflora rose with anupright moderately spreading medium height growing habit (about 140 toabout 165 cm. in height), whereas the seed parent is classified as afloribunda rose with a significantly shorter bushy compact upright lowto medium height growing habit (about 90 to about 130 cm. in height).

The new variety may be distinguished from its pollen parent, ‘MACgenev’by the following combination of characteristics: whereas ‘WEKgobnez’bears very double flowers (about 41 to 66 petals) of burgundy & creamstriped bicolor coloration, ‘MACgenev’ bears double flowers of lightpink coloration with significantly lesser petalage (about 25 to 30petals). The new variety bears average size flowers (about 7.7 to about9.6 cm. in diameter), whereas the pollen parent bears significantlylarger flowers (about 18.0 cm. in diameter).

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

The new variety may be distinguished from its closest commerciallyavailable cultivar, ‘WEKplapep’ by the following combination ofcharacteristics: whereas ‘WEKgobnez’ bears very double flowers (about 41to 66 petals) of burgundy & cream striped bicolor coloration,‘WEKplapep’ bears double flowers of striped red and white colorationwith significantly lesser petalage (about 31 to 36 petals). The newvariety is classified as a grandiflora rose with an upright moderatelyspreading growing habit (about 140 to about 165 cm. in height), whereasthe closest commercially available cultivar is classified as afloribunda rose with a significantly shorter bushy upright to roundedgrowing habit (about 90 to about 120 cm. in height).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

The accompanying photograph illustrates the new variety and shows theflowering thereof from bud to full bloom depicted in color as nearlycorrect as it is possible to make in a color illustration of thecharacter. Throughout this specification, color references and/or valuesare based upon the Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society(1966) except where common terms of color definition are employed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following description is of 3 to 4 year-old rose plants of the newvariety grown outdoors in Pomona, Calif. in the month of October.Phenotypic expression may vary with environmental, cultural and climaticconditions, as well as differences in conditions of light and soil.

BOTANICAL DESIGNATION

The new variety botanical designation is Rosa hybrida ‘WEKgobnez’.

FLOWER

The new variety usually bears its flowers singly, sometimes in clustersof two to three per stem. Flowers may be borne in regular roundedclusters on strong medium length stems (about 25 to about 68 cm.).Outdoors, the plant blooms abundantly and nearly continuously during thegrowing season. The flowers have a strong damask to citrus-likefragrance.

BUD

The peduncle is about 2.9 to about 6.6 cm. in length, of average caliper(about 0.2 to about 0.3 cm. in diameter), and usually erect. It ismoderately smooth, with some stipitate glands and few hairs. Pedunclecolor is between 146B and 139B often moderately suffused, especially onthe side exposed to the sun, with between 183B and 187B.

Before the calyx breaks, the bud is about 1.2 to about 1.5 cm. indiameter at the widest point, about 1.4 to about 1.9 cm. in length, andmoderately globular to somewhat ovoid in shape. The surface of the budbears few foliaceous appendages and stipitate glands, usually withslender entire foliaceous parts extending beyond the tip of the budabout ½ or more of its length. Bud color is between 146A and 139Bsometimes lightly suffused, especially on the side exposed to the sun,with between 183B and 187B.

The sepals are about 2.2 to about 3.3 cm. in length and about 0.5 toabout 0.8 cm. in width at the widest point. The outer surface color ofthe sepal is between 146A and 139B sometimes lightly suffused,especially on the side exposed to the sun, with between 183B and 187B.The inner surface color of the sepal is near 138B broadly bordered bynear 137A. The inner surface of the sepal is covered with fine woolytomentum; sepal margins are lined with many stipitate glands and hairs.

The receptacle of the flower is of short length (about 0.2 to about 0.4cm.) and moderately thin in caliper (about 0.6 to about 0.8 cm. indiameter). The receptacle is moderately urn-shaped to somewhat flat inform. Its surface is very smooth with some hairs and with somewhat thinfleshy walls. The receptacle color is between 146B and 139B.

As the petals open (after the calyx breaks), the bud is about 1.7 toabout 2.0 cm. in diameter at the widest point, about 1.8 to about 2.3cm. in length, and moderately globular to somewhat ovoid in form. Thecolor of the under surfaces of the newly opened petals is between 12Dand 13D sometimes moderately blushed with between 60B and 59C to as darkas between 187B and 187A. At the point where the petal attaches, thereis a moderately large zone of between 1C and 154C. The color of theupper surfaces of the newly opened petals is irregularly striped andflecked with as dark as between 187A and 53A to as light as between 11Cand 13D sometimes lightly suffused on the lighter color with near 60D.At the point where the petal attaches, there is a moderately large zoneof between 4B and 3C.

BLOOM

When fully open, the bloom ranges from about 7.7 to about 9.6 cm. indiameter. Petalage is very double with about 41 to 66 petals and about 3to 11 petaloids irregularly arranged. When partially open, the bloomform is moderately globular to cupped, and the petals are looselyspiraled to cupped with petal edges somewhat reflexed outward. Whenfully open, the bloom form is more cupped, and the petals are looselycupped with petal edges moderately reflexed outward.

PETALS

The substance of the petals is moderately heavy and of somewhat thinthickness, with upper surfaces moderately satiny to somewhat velvety andunder surfaces shiny. The petals are about 2.8 to about 5.3 cm. inlength and about 1.8 to about 5.6 cm. in width at the widest point.Petal margins are entire.

The outer petals are moderately obovate in shape with rounded apices.

The inner petals are moderately oblanceolate to somewhat obovate inshape with rounded apices.

Petaloids are about 1.1 to about 3.3 cm. in length and about 0.7 toabout 2.3 cm. in width at the widest point. Petaloids are irregularlyshaped moderately oblanceolate to somewhat subulate with rounded apices.

NEWLY OPENED FLOWER

The under surface color of the outer, intermediate and inner petals isbetween 4D and 155B sometimes moderately blushed with between 60B and61C. There is no visible change in coloration at the point where thepetal attaches. The upper surface color of the outer, intermediate andinner petals is irregularly striped and flecked with as dark as between53A and 46B to as light as between 4D and 155B sometimes lightlysuffused on the lighter color with between 57C and 61C. At the pointwhere the petal attaches, there is a moderately large zone of between 3Dand 2C.

The under and upper surface color of the petaloids are similar incoloration to the upper and under surfaces of the intermediate and innerpetals.

The general tonality of the newly opened flower is irregularly stripedand flecked with as dark as between 53A and 46B to as light as between4D and 155B sometimes lightly suffused on the lighter color with between57C and 61C.

THREE-DAY-OLD FLOWER

The under surface color of the outer, intermediate and inner petals isbetween 4D and 155B sometimes moderately blushed with between 61B and61C. There is no visible change in coloration at the point where thepetal attaches. The upper surface color of the outer, intermediate andinner petals is irregularly striped and flecked with as dark as between60A and 46B to as light as between 4D and 155B sometimes moderatelysuffused on the lighter color with between 57C and 6C. At the pointwhere the petal attaches, there is a moderately large zone of near 2D.

The under and upper surface color of the petaloids are similar incoloration to the upper and under surfaces of the intermediate and innerpetals.

The general tonality of the three-day-old flower is irregularly stripedand flecked with as dark as between 60A and 46B to as light as between4D and 155B sometimes moderately suffused on the lighter color withbetween 57C and 61C.

On the spent bloom, the petals usually drop off cleanly.

In October in Pomona, Calif., blooms on the bush growing outdoorsgenerally last about four to five days. Cut roses from plants grownoutdoors and kept at normal indoor living temperatures generally lastabout four to five days.

MALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens are many in number (average about 150) and are arrangedregularly about the pistils; a few are mixed with petaloids. Thefilaments are of medium length (about 0.4 to about 0.7 cm.) most withanthers. Filaments are between 2B and 3B in color. The anthers aresomewhat large for the class and all open approximately at the sametime. Anther color when immature is near 22B on the external part andnear 11D on the internal part. Anther color at maturity is near 165B onthe external part and near 200B on the internal part. Pollen is abundantand between 18B and 19C in color.

FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Pistils vary in number (average about 110). The styles are moderatelyeven, somewhat long in length (about 0.6 to about 0.9 cm.), moderatelythin in caliper, and loosely separated to somewhat columnar. Stigmacolor is between 6C and 8A. Style color is between 1C and 154C sometimesmoderately blushed near the top with between 53B and 53C. Ovaries areusually all enclosed in the calyx.

Hips are of somewhat long length (about 1.4 to about 2.3 cm.),moderately globular to somewhat rounded in form, and between 33B and 34Bin color when ripe. The hip surface is very smooth with thick fleshywalls. The sepals are moderately fugacious and usually straight inshape.

The seeds are irregularly rounded, smooth in texture, approximately 8 toabout 15 per hip, about 0.3 to about 0.5 cm. in diameter at the widestpoint and between 161B and 162C in color.

FOLIAGE

The compound leaves are usually comprised of three to seven leaflets andare borne abundantly. The five-leaflet leaves are about 7.9 to about12.9 cm. in length and about 6.7 to about 10.1 cm. in width at thewidest point, moderately heavy to somewhat crisp in texture, and glossyin finish on the upper side and matte in finish in the under side. Theterminal leaflets are about 4.4 to about 6.3 cm. in length and about 2.8to about 4.5 cm. in width at the widest point, shaped moderately ovateto somewhat oval with acute apices and rounded bases. Their margins areusually simply serrate.

The upper surface color of the mature leaf is between 139A and 139B. Theunder surface color of the mature leaf is between 147B and 139C. Theupper surface color of the young leaf is between 147A and 137A, usuallyheavily suffused with between 187A and 183A. The under surface color ofthe young leaf is between 139B and 138A, usually heavily suffused withbetween 187B and 183B.

The rachis is of average size caliper and rough. The upper side isdeeply grooved with few hairs and some stipitate glands on the edges ofthe grooves. The under side of the rachis is rough with few stipitateglands and small prickles. The rachis color is near 146C on the underside and near 146A on the upper side. The rachis is often heavilysuffused on the young leaves with between 187A and 183A.

The stipules are about 0.8 to about 1.4 cm. in length and of mediumwidth (about 0.5 to about 0.7 cm.) with long straight points thatusually turn out at an angle of more than 45 degrees and sometimesrecurve toward the stem. The stipule color is between 137B and 146Asometimes heavily suffused especially on the young leaves with between187A and 183A.

The petiole is of average size caliper and rough. The upper side isdeeply grooved with few hairs and some stipitate glands on the edges ofthe grooves. The under side of the petiole is rough with few stipitateglands and small prickles. The petiole is about 0.9 to about 1.4 cm. inlength and about 0.1 to about 0.15 cm in diameter at the widest point.The petiole color is near 146C on the under side and near 146A on theupper side. The petiole is often heavily suffused on the young leaveswith between 187A and 183A.

The plant displays an above average degree of resistance to powderymildew and rust as compared to other commercial varieties grown undercomparable conditions in Pomona, Calif. The plant's winter hardiness anddrought/heat tolerance are yet to be determined.

GROWTH

The plant has an upright moderately spreading medium height growinghabit (about 140 to about 165 cm. in height and about 50 to about 58 cm.spread at the widest point), with full branching. It displays vigorousgrowth and the canes are of medium size caliper for the class (about 0.9to about 1.8 cm. in width at the widest point).

The color of the major stems is between 147B and 146A. They bear severallarge prickles that are about 1.1 to about 1.4 cm. in length. The largeprickles are almost straight to angled slightly downward with a somewhatshort broad oval base; prickle color is near 165A. The major stem bearsmany small prickles of similar shape and coloration.

The color of the branches is between 146A and 139B. They bear many largeprickles which are of similar size and shape to the large prickles onthe major stems; prickle color is between 165B and 164A. The branchesbear some small prickles of similar shape and coloration.

The color of the new shoots is between 146B and 139B often moderatelysuffused with between 187B and 183B. They bear many large prickles whichare of similar size and shape to the large prickles on the major stems;prickle color is near 152B often moderately suffused with between 187Cand 183C. The shoots bear some small prickles of similar shape andcoloration.

1. A new and distinct Grandiflora rose plant of the varietysubstantially as described and illustrated herein.